Saudi Arabia Warns Israel: Any Annexation Step for West Bank Territories Will Close the Door to Normalization

Sada News - Saudi Arabia sent a message to Israel that any annexation step for the occupied West Bank territories, even if partial, will obstruct the possibility of normalizing relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv or reaching any agreements in the future.

Israeli reports mentioned on Sunday evening that Benjamin Netanyahu's government is considering implementing a "partial annexation" in response to the recognition of a Palestinian state.

According to Israeli Channel 12, Saudi political figures in "secret communication" with Israel informed Tel Aviv of their absolute opposition to the annexation, even if limited to the Jordan Valley.

This comes as the U.S. administration is holding a summit regarding the war on the Gaza Strip, with participation from Cairo, Doha, Amman, Ankara, and Abu Dhabi, in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next Tuesday, according to an Israeli media report on Sunday evening.

The messages directed to Israel stated that "annexation steps will have significant consequences on all levels".

According to the same sources, Riyadh has "significant economic and security influence, and even the ability to close the airspace".

The report added that "the Saudi message is clear, without ambiguity: annexation will close the door to any future agreements with Israel".

Considering Steps Like Moving Area "B" to the Same Status as Area "C"

Netanyahu stated that "a response to the latest attempt to impose a state on us will come... after my return from the United States; stay tuned", indicating in his statement that any step he ultimately takes must have the support of the U.S. administration, and according to the report "this support has not yet been granted".

"Haaretz" reported that "perhaps Netanyahu's ambiguous statement, which suggested that a practical response is forthcoming, aims to drown the media once again with the right's dreams of full annexation".

The newspaper cited a source described as familiar with the details, indicating that Netanyahu's circle estimates that announcing the annexation is impossible in light of the UAE's threat that such a step would harm the "Abraham Accords".

Meanwhile, close associates of Netanyahu are considering steps such as moving Area B to the same status as Area C, i.e. placing military and civil Israeli responsibility instead of Palestinian civil responsibility.

Israel has also discussed in recent weeks a series of potential sanctions against countries that recognize a Palestinian state, as Tel Aviv considered canceling entry visas to Ramallah for diplomats from these countries, alongside the possibility of closing their consulates, as a "strong response".

According to the report, this response primarily targets the French consulate, as it leads, in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the movement toward collective recognition of the Palestinian state.

This comes as Israel informed Saudi Arabia, through a contact between the Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, and the Crown Prince's Office, Mohammed bin Salman, that it is not ready at this stage for any political path with the Palestinian Authority, including negotiation or steps toward establishing a Palestinian state, and thus it rejects Saudi conditions to proceed with the path of normalizing relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv, according to what "Israel Hayom" reported on Saturday.

The newspaper quoted "American and Arab diplomatic sources" that Dermer made a call to the Saudi side weeks ago, during which the Saudi Crown Prince requested clarifications from Israel regarding its plans to end the war on Gaza, and the day after the war.

During the call, Dermer stated that Israel "is proceeding to defeat Hamas and ensure it does not raise its head again", emphasizing the Israeli government's refusal to discuss the formation of any body to administer the sector after the war, and its refusal to involve the Palestinian Authority in such an arrangement.